By Steve Agbota
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has lamented that despite Nigeria’s huge investment in maritime security, Nigeria is still paying war risk insurance premium on cargoes bound for the nation’s ports.
Speaking on Thursday when he received a team from the Denmark Ministry of Foreing Affairs, the Director General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, urged the international community to look into the continuous payment of war risk insurance premium by Nigerian bound cargoes despite the drop in piracy issues within the nation’s waters.
According to the NIMASA DG who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile, he said that due to the commitment NIMASA and the federal government has made in maritime security to ensure almost zero incidents of piracy and robbery within the Gulf of Guinea in the past four years, there’s no reason for the current war risk premium paid by vessels coming down this region.
“We have had collaborations with the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre. We look forward to having exchange programmes involving NIMASA, the Danish maritime institution to facilitate knowledge sharing. I think it was in November 2023 that we had this media training conducted in partnership with the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre.
“Since that training, there has been notable improvement in maritime reporting by Nigerian media.
“I am sure you are aware of the Deep Blue Project which was commissioned in 2021. Now, one of the issues we need to look at is how the international community has responded to Nigeria’s effort in combating maritime insecurity and mitigating the harmful effects of piracy and kidnapping in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
“Since the Deep Blue Project intervention, there has been elimination of piracy and kidnapping in the GoG.”
Unfortunately, he said Nigeria has not seen a commensurate response in terms of reduction in the war risk insurance premium and the cost of freight movement.
“These are things we expect that the international community will look into. I hope that with your visit, the Danish government will look into this issues. There should be a direct response to show that the world appreciates the work that we have done in that regard,” he added.
“As we interact further, we will be able to find our from you what are the things we need to do better.”
Speaking earlier, the leader of the Danish Ministey of Foreign Affairs, Ms Kristin Skov-Spilling explained that they are in NIMASA to hear Nigeria’s experience on the cooperation with the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre.
“Nigeria is really the big brother in this sector and domain, and we’re honoured that you’re so kind of willing to spend time with us.
“There is the Kofi Annan Centre doing training, but also research and capacity development with a regional perspective. The research they do can be used by all stakeholders to enhance the use of the sort of institutional administrative frameworks that exist, like the Yaounde architecture, etc.
“And then we actually also have a military sort of cooperation, where the Danish sort of military attachés, one in Accra and one here in Abuja, supporting the programme.
“Today, what we’re interested in is to hear your experience with the cooperation with the Kofi Annan Centre. So far, what have been the highlights and I don’t know if there’s been any down points, but also if you have any suggestions for things that ought to be included for the future.
“It’s interesting to know how you see this code of practice regarding women in the maritime sector. But overall, it’s also really interesting to hear Nigeria’s perspectives on the domain of maritime security, because of your very important role,” she explained.